2018 World Cup qualifiers: Honeymoon period over as Switzerland stun Portugal

Euro 2016 champions suffer first competitive defeat in two years under coach Santos

BASEL/SAO PAULO: Switzerland struck twice in quick succession to stun Euro 2016 champions Portugal 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday and hand them a first competitive defeat in two years under coach Fernando Santos.

Nineteen-year-old Breel Embolo headed Switzerland ahead in the 23rd minute and Admir Mehmedi doubled the lead six minutes later as Portugal’s defence, almost impregnable in France in June, dramatically unravelled.

Portugal, missing talismanic forward and record scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, regained their composure and dominated the rest of the game but were hopelessly ineffective in attack.



Nani was the biggest culprit when he headed Ricardo Quaresma’s cross against the post from close range in the 82nd minute.

The Portuguese had 27 attempts on goal to Switzerland’s eight but only four were on target.

They had 12 efforts blocked and 11 went wide while they also won 11 corners to one for the hosts.



Brazil win, Argentina draw, Uruguay go top

Neymar’s second-half goal gave Brazil a 2-1 victory over Colombia on Tuesday as the former world champions registered their second consecutive win to take second place in the South America qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup.

The home side got the perfect start after just 80 seconds when Miranda rose to head home a corner and score his first goal in 33 appearances for the national side.

Brazil, playing just their second game under new coach Tite, dominated the first half with a high-pace pressing game but struggled to make clear cut chances and paid the price in 35 minutes when Colombia equalised against the run of play.



James Rodriguez floated in a free kick from 35 yards out and Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed the ball into his own net.

Neymar took a pass just inside the box with 73 minutes gone and his angled drive was well placed into the far corner to beat Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.

It was his 48th goal in 72 international games and takes the Barcelona striker equal to Zico on Brazil’s all-time goal-scoring list.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.

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